Causes of World War I Laura Vicuna and Nadia Vaenerberg

Long term causes for WWI (MANIA) Militarism Alliances Nationalism Imperialism Awful Governments

Militarism Waging war – productive Arms race When one country seemed to have more of one weapon other countries would retaliate by producing more weapons, they thought they were keeping a “balance of power”.

Alliances Triple Alliance: Germany, Austria-Hungary and Italy Triple Entente: Britian, France and Russia The alliances meant that that allies had to help one another out if they were being threatened or attacked.

Nationalism People loved their own countries and were very proud. Any insult made on a country was taken very seriously.

Imperialism Having a large empire was important: labour, land, resources, trading possibilities. Britain: Cairo to South Africa plan France: Atlantic to Red Sea plan Germany wanted to prove their own strength and have a large empire like the other great powers.

Awful governments Autocratic rulers The public's choices were not taken into account

Short term causes for WWI The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, on June 1914 created a series of diplomatic events which eventually led to the war in Europe

After a series of local wars (1912 & 1913) Serbia emerged as one of the most powerful countries in the Balkans. Austria-Hungary was threatened and was searching for a reason to attack. After the assassination of the Archduke Austria- Hungary was presented with the perfect opportunity. Austria-Hungary and Serbia

The Ultimatum Austria-Hungary was trying to crush the Serbian national movement and sent an ultimatum after the assassination. They expected Serbia to decline, once they did so, Austria-Hungary would declare war. Serbia accepted some of the demands but not to all of them so Austria-Hungary declared war in July 1914.

Bibliography Clare, John. "Background to the War." johndclare. N.p., n.d. Web. 7 Dec firstworldwar. com/origins/causes. htm